If the tails of dogs of certain breeds are constantly docked, will their puppies be born tailless? - briefly
No, docking the tails of certain dog breeds does not result in puppies being born tailless, as tail length is determined by genetics rather than physical alteration.
If the tails of dogs of certain breeds are constantly docked, will their puppies be born tailless? - in detail
Tail docking in dogs is a practice where a portion of the tail is surgically removed, often for aesthetic or historical working purposes in certain breeds. However, this procedure does not influence the genetic makeup of the dog or its offspring. The inheritance of tail length and presence is determined by genes, not by physical alterations made during an animal’s lifetime. When tails are docked, it is a phenotypic change that does not affect the genotype, meaning the genetic information passed on to puppies remains unchanged. Puppies born to parents with docked tails will inherit the natural tail length determined by their genetic lineage. For example, breeds like Boxers or Rottweilers, which traditionally have docked tails, are naturally born with full tails. The practice of docking does not create a genetic mutation or adaptation that would result in tailless offspring. Genetic traits, such as the natural absence of a tail (seen in breeds like the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog), are the result of specific hereditary factors and selective breeding over generations, not from external modifications like docking. Therefore, docking tails in certain breeds will not lead to puppies being born tailless.